First Posted: 1/15/2009

BUNN -- After taking an early lead, Fairmont saw two key mistakes swing the outcome of its season-opening 28-12 loss to Bunn on Friday night.
The Golden Tornadoes (0-1) out-gained the Wildcats (1-0) 228 yards to 151, had one more first down and five fewer penalties, but Fairmont committed three costly turnovers.
The costliest fumble came midway through the third quarter, with Bunn leading 7-6. Fairmont was driving with a first-and-10 on the Wildcat 20-yard line, but on the next play Fairmont halfback Will Hill, who paced the Tornadoes' offense with 96 yards rushing on 31 carries, fumbled the ball into the hands of Bunn defensive back Leon Williams, who returned it 80 yards for a score.
The Wildcats added another score two minutes later on a 3-yard run by Tim Trader, who finished with 82 yards, and Dallas Neal added the final nail with a 9-yard scoring run with 3:17 to play.
Fairmont staked an early 6-0 lead on a 24-yard run by senior quarterback Brandon Floyd, but then came the Golden Tornadoes' first costly mistake early in the second quarter.
Looking to boot the ball away on fourth down deep in Tornadoes territory, Fairmont's punter let his knee touch the ground on the snap, giving Bunn the ball on the 20. A few plays later, Trader crossed the goal line from 1 yard out as the Wildcats grabbed the lead, 7-6.
From there, Fairmont won the statistical battles, but the breaks seemed to bounce Bunn's way.
The Golden Tornadoes closed the scoring with 20 seconds left in the game, as Floyd hit Kinley Williamson for an 11-yard touchdown pass. It was Floyd's only completion of the game, and the two quarterbacks -- Bunn's Joey Henn being the other -- combined to complete just two passes for 11 yards.
Floyd did finish with 76 yards on nine carries.
Fairmont returns to action this Friday at home against Lumberton.